Farmer Dan aims to put the craic back in country

Farmer Dan is going back on tour. The man from Hilltown in Co Down is set to put the craic back in country music as he takes his new show to venues all over Ireland and the UK.

The show will have a distinctive rural appeal and Farmer Dan (also known to many as Barry Doyle) and his five-piece band are raring to go. Eamon Keane, manager of The Indians, is taking over the diary.

After six years away from regular touring, during which time Farmer Dan worked with several music tour operators and overseas shows, he has decided that now is the time to hit the road.

“We recorded a new album called Putting the Craic into Country, and, to me, that is what a night out is all about.

“Yes, it’s about a great dance programme to suit the jivers, the waltzers and even the rock and rollers, but, mostly, it’s about having a great night’s craic, with a fun element. Our motto is: ‘Send ’em home sweating.’

“Together with many country classics, I will be featuring songs such as The Transit Van, Jump Into Bed With Me Wellie Boots On, My Granny Was a Plucker, The John Deere Tractor, My Little Massey and The Stuttering Bum”.

The Farmer Dan persona was first launched in 1998 and has always had a special appeal in Scotland, where he has sold thousands of albums. This phenomenon was highlighted recently when he went on tour there and was overwhelmed by the welcome he received.

In Keith, Aberdeenshire, on a Sunday afternoon in October, the local Young Farmers and members of the local British Legion organised a tractor run to herald Farmer Dan’s arrival in town.

They even had Farmer Dan’s signature tractor, a Massey Ferguson 35x, ticking over in-waiting for Farmer Dan to lead the cavalcade.

Both sides of the street were lined with well-wishers and the Strathclyde pipe band played for the last half mile of the tractor run to the sold-out performance that saw three generations of Farmer Dan fans dance the evening away.

Over the years, he has appeared on GMTV, Newsline, UTV live, The Kelly Show, RTÉ’s Podge and Rodge and Channel 4’s Big Breakfast.

Now with the relaunch, Dan’s enthusiasm is surging to new heights as he looks forward to a busy year.

“We have already taken bookings in the UK and parts of Ireland for events such as steam rallies, tractor rallies, agricultural shows, dances and much more. We feel we can bring something unique to this market, something that will have special appeal.

“Eamon Keane is doing a good job for us and he will be delighted to handle any queries in relation to bookings throughout 2014. EK Promotions can be contacted at 0044 7899 766667 (or 07899 766667), while details can also be found by emailing info@farmerdan.ie.

“Norbrook Animal Treatments are sponsoring us and we are deeply thankful to them for coming on-board with us.”

In the coming weeks, Farmer Dan will be out and about at the Spring Farm Machinery Show at the Maze in Co Down on 15 and 16 January, and also at the Spring Show in Fintona, Co Tyrone, in the last week of January.

A launch night will be held in the Kilmorey Arms Hotel in Kilkeel, Co Down, on Saturday, 25 January, with a number of other launches to be announced in the coming weeks.

For Farmer Dan and his merry entourage, it’s all systems go as a new year rolls into view. They look forward to meeting many of your somewhere along the line in 2014.